Book Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone – Laini Taylor

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she speaks many languages – not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
From master storyteller and National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor comes a sweeping and gorgeously written modern fantasy about a forbidden love, an ancient and epic battle, and hope for a world remade.

First Sentence: Walking to school over the snow-muffled cobbles, Karou had no sinister premonitions about the day.

My Review:

It all started with the hype. Everyone who had read Daughter of Smoke & Bone was going around praising it, worshiping the air Laini Taylor walked on, and urging everyone to get their hands on it and read it. I resisted – until the Days of Blood & Starlight came out and I fell in love with its beautiful cover. Before I can actually read Days of Blood & Starlight, though, I actually had to read Daughter of Smoke & Bone first.

The first thing I have to say about Daughter of Smoke & Bone is that Laini Taylor’s writing is just so unique. Upon reading the first paragraph of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone, I could already tell that Laini Taylor’s writing is different from all the other authors that I’ve read before. Her writing is detailed, but not that detailed. It’s long, but doesn’t have any run-ons. Her descriptions are sometimes weird – but it works. Laini Taylor’s writing is simply unique.

I’m quite sad to give The Daughter of Smoke & Bone 3.5 stars instead of a full 5 stars, but I have my reasons. My one and main reason is that the first two-thirds of Daughter of Smoke & Bone were just okay. It didn’t grab my attention and truly make me feel for the characters, I was just going along with the story. However, at the last one-third of the book when everything was finally revealed, I had so many feelings. (I never thought that I’ll actually write that.) I literally didn’t want to let the book go.

My one other complaint on The Daughter of Smoke & Bone is how Laini Taylor dragged things on long after I figured out a majority of things. I knew who Karou was once a certain event was revealed, and I had to read at least another hundred pages more to find out that I was right. I knew what Akiva had done, but had to read another two hundred to three hundred pages until it was finally revealed.

I feel that the Daughter of Smoke & Bone didn’t really start until page 57. Before page 57, there were just lots of backstory on Karou, her life, what she went through, and what she could do. It was when I finally reached page 57 that I finally met the other main character that plays a major role in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone. As soon as I got to page 57, I squealed in happiness because I could tell that finally the book would start for real instead of just giving us the backstory.

I want to bow down to Brimstone. At first, I hated that chimaera. He was moody, rude, and impolite. He was simply a beast in my eyes. However, after finding out what he did way later on in the book, let’s just say that I fell in love with him and his ways. Too bad there isn’t a Brimstone in real life. (If there was a Brimstone in real life, I’ll probably run far far away from him anyway because of how he looks.)

One thing I didn’t get is why are the chimaeras called the “devils” in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone? Sure, they are “monsters” since they have a mix of human and animal body parts, but that doesn’t necessarily make them the devil. I’m still waiting on that explanation.

Overall, I did somewhat enjoy the Daughter of Smoke & Bone, especially once I reached two-thirds into it. I am going to read the sequel sometime soon and fond over that cover. It is simply gorgeous. As for if the Daughter of Smoke & Bone deserves the hype or not? I’ll say it deserves it since Laini Taylor’s writing is just beautiful.

Speak Your Mind

Glad you liked it :). I am hoppeing to get a copy and read it either this week or next. Also thanks for the heads up about the first 57 pages being backstory. If I started the book and didn’t know that, I think I would have quit around page 40.

Glad to know you like this. I love Laini Taylor’s lyrical prose, it makes Daughter of Smoke and Bone such a magical read. I haven’t started on the second book but I hope to soon. I’m definitely interested to see your take on it. :D

I recently got the second book out from the library and I’m really looking forward to reading it! I can remember reading The Daughter of Smoke and Bone and thinking it was AWESOME although feeling freaked out at times. Although, i read it before i started reviewing books so i can’t read my own review :( Anyway, i enjoyed your thoughts on The Daughter ….(you know what, that title is way to long to type can I be lazy and just put TDOSAB? Thanks! I will!) I enjoyed your thoughts on TDOSAB and have now made me want to read the second book even more now! Stop messing up my TBR pile!

Great review! Although Smoke and Bone was a 5 star read for me, I agree with the points you made here. The first half of the story was “okay”, but I don’t know, I guess I was too enchanted with Laini’s writing to notice?

and about the chimaera thing, I believe Brimstone said something about why humans perceive chimaera as the devils, and seraph as angels? Something to do with religion? Can’t remember.Reem @ I Read And Tell recently posted…Blogging Advice From A Newbie To A Newbie

Thanks! :D
I was enchanted with Laini Taylor’s writing too, but I also need a strong beginning to immediately capture my attention too, if you know what I mean.
He did mention that? I guess I’ll have to pay more attention to that when I re-read Daughter of Smoke & Bone in the future.Kelly recently posted…Summer Lovin’ Readathon: Day 1 – Class Orientation + Teaser Tidbits

I’m still not sure if I am interested in this series or not. Neither the cover nor the description appeal to me, and especially after reading how long it takes for the story to really start, that makes me want to read it even less. Great review!

Yeah, I liked this book well enough too, but I didn’t LOVE it. However, I definitely fell in love with the next book, Days of Blood & Starlight. Maybe you would too. (:Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [46]

This review is spot on to what I was thinking. I tend to pick up on things quite quickly and it took longer than most books to have everything revealed. I did really like the second half of the book. Once it picked up, I didn’t want to put it down. Great review!Zandalee recently posted…Cover Reveal~ Far Too Tempting by Lauren Blakely

Oh my gosh! I need to read this book so bad! I keep hearing about it all the time and it’s been a while since it was released. And the third book is going to come out next year and I haven’t even started the series. I hope I can join the bandwagon for this one soon :3

I have heard so so many things about this book..i yet to get it to read due to my budget…but i will get to it eventually..I didnt know it has a chimaera in it!!!! im even more interested in this book!!!!

Why not borrow it from the library Sarah? I mean, Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke & Bone is TOO good not to read.
Ha ha, chimaeras are the “devil” in this series while the angels are the angels.Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [53]

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Effortlessly Reading sometimes receives ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) from publishers or authors in exchange for honest reviews. Please note that no compensation of any kind has been provided in exchange for a review. Any use and/or duplication of my material without any permission is strictly prohibited.